Map holder



P fL 1950 v. P. DRURY 2,503,101

MAP HOLDER Filed May 2, 1947 Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES OF FICE- 'MAP HOLDER Victor Percy'Drury, Northmount, Ontario, Canada.

Application .May 2, 1947,. Serial'No. 745589 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved roadmap holder, and the objects .of theinvention are:

1. To design a device'for use especially in motor cars by means of which road maps may be housed, and individually readily Withdrawn therefrom for study on either side.

2. To control the Withdrawal and housing of one of a-plurality of maps by elastic means common thereto, thus providing a very compact and relatively inexpensive article.

3. To provide means to prevent the elastic means, in action, withdrawing a map completely Within the housing so that one end-may be exposed and readily grasped when required, orwhen it is desired to study airout'e'without the tiresome act of having to oppose the urge oft-he elastic means to Wind the map up, and

4. To provide means whereby a complete change of maps may be readilyeffected;

Various other objects of-the invention will be set forth in the following specification:-

Fig. 1, is a perspective'view of the article unmounted.

Fig. 2,- is a vertical longitudinal section onthe line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, isavertical cross-section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a schematic detail in cross-section showing theaction ofoneof'the map spindles in storing up energyin the. spring when a: map is withdrawn from the casing.

Fig. 5, is a detail, partly-in section; showing how a map is connected to itsspindle, and

Fig. 6, is a detail in cross section, through one ofv the map' spindles showing how the inner'end of the map is preferably-mounted thereon.

In the drawings, likecharactersof reference refer to the same parts;

The casing 2, may be of any: suitable shape, but for cheapness" of manufacture it is circularin cross-section. The ends of the casingtare closed by the caps 4, in a manner well "known; There are two power spindles 5', and 5. These spindles are held in alignment; and are 1 suitably mounted at their outer ends in thecaps l. At suitable inner locations the said power spindles are held in" suitable bearings; such as provided; by brackets- I; These brackets are provided) with arms- 8; which are held in the casing 2, as shown particularly in Fig, 3. Mountedon thes'aid' spindles 5, and 6,'between the brackets" 1; is'a spiral"sprin"g' 9: One end'of this spring-is suitably secured to thezpower spindle 5; and'theotherend'of" this spring is suitably securedto the' powen spindle- 62' Asshown: in: Fig: 2; the=opposed*ends-of the spin 55? 2 dles' 5, and'fi, touch, andbecausethey are distinct spindles, the rotation of one can be effected without rotating-the other.

In thedisclosure'the casing is shown as provided with two map-spindles, I0, and H. These spindles are mounted at their ends in the caps 4.

The casing 2, is provided with at least one slot l2, extending longitudinally thereof, to provide for the manipulation of a map l3. With refer ence to the spindle iii; the same is intermediate its length reduced in cross-section, and is provided with a loop l4, as shown in Fig. 5. When the map I3, is housed within the casing 2, as shown in Fig. 1, the loop M, is wound around the reduced central portion of the spindle l0. As the map is withdrawn, itis unwound and rotates the spindle l0, and the belt l5, wound around the spindle 5, is unwound therefrom and wound around the spindle HI, thus storing up energy in the spring 9. As the pull of the operator against the map I3, is relaxed, the power spindle 5, is rotated by the spring and consequently through the medium of the belt I5, the spindle I0, is rotated and the map l3, withdrawn through the slot l2, and'wound around the spindle ID.

The device illustrated is adapted to carry two separate maps. In the upper portion of Fig. 2', is shown a map spindle Hi, the ends of which are suitably journalled in the caps 4. Around this map spindle is shown a map IT, in section. If it is desired to withdraw the map I1, energy may be stored up in the spring 9, through the winding around the spindle l6, of the belt I8, from around the spindle 6. Of course, themap I1, is attached to its spindle I6, after the manner disclosed with respect to the map l3.

Any suitable means may be provided to prevent the escape of the maps through the slots in the casing 2. The preferred means for this purpose comprises buttons l9. These buttons are longitudinally 'slotted'sothat they may be slid longitudinally over the folded ends 20, of the outer'ends of'the maps. Thesefolded ends are Stifienedby a rod 2|, held therein.

The inner ends of the maps are folded over as shown at' 22, and suitably secured in place, andto stiffen the same each is provided with a rod 23.

When it is desired to replace a map, the rod 23, is withdrawn from the loop 14.

Of course any'suitablemeans may be provided to couple and uncouple the maps with respect tothe device.

In' order to promote 'eflective' operation of the belts l5, and 18, the spindles around which they arewoundare reduced in'"diameter as illustrated."

To promote the evenness of the winding of the maps around their spindles, these spindles are flattened longitudinally as shown at 24, (Fig. 6), so that the folded portions 22, will always lie thereagainst when the maps are used. This construction reduces the distance the said folded portions 22, project beyond the said spindles, and to that extent reduces the lumpiness of these folded ends around which the maps are to be wound.

Since means must be used to prevent the elastic means withdrawing a map completely within the casing, it will be evident that with the map unrolled as shown in Fig. 2, the spindle 6, is prevented from rotation since the belt I8, is merely looped over the spindle l6, and since this spindle carries a map wound thereon, and since the outer end of this map is held in the position shown in Fig. 1, the energy exerted by the spring 9, or its equivalent to withdraw the map l3, can not be exerted and rotate the spindle 6. The construction shown in Fig. 2, shows that there is a legitimate combination between the various spindles; the elastic element, and the maps carried by certain of said spindles, under all conditions.

It will be obvious from what has hereinbefore been stated that only one map-spindle and its map may be used with the spindle 5, and spring 9, when the spindle s, is held from rotation at any time.

Although two map-spindles with their maps are shown, one only need be used, but in practice it has been found that especially where maps are provided that are used for a motor trip of a very great distance, a number of maps are needed. On each side of a sheet on which maps are re-produced a difierent map is provided and consequently with the construction shown, four distinct maps are provided. A journey may be started in territory disclosed by a first map and the final phase of the journey may be disclosed on the reverse side of a sheet disclosing the last map. In other words, the sides of the sheets may be used consecutively to follow a given route. To conveniently map out a route such as instanced on one map would require it to be of undue length and so unmanageable. It must be kept in mind that the windows of a motor car are always open in mild weather and consequently strong air currents pass through the car, and so render long maps impracticable.

When a map is completely withdrawn from the casing 2, because of the. loop 14, it may be readily reversed.

In case it be desired to study a map very carefully, and to avoid having to oppose physically the action of the spring 9, to withdraw the map, any suitable means may be used to latch either of the power spindles 5, or 6, against rotation. Such means may be in the form of a dog 25, pivoted to the caps 4, and adapted to engage notches 26, formed in the exposed ends of said power spindles. r

While herein has been described the preferred embodiment of this invention it must be understood that various changes in construction may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A map holder comprising two spindles; a map wound around each of said spindles; two aligned juxtaposed spindles; a spiralspring mounted to surround said aligned spindles and secured at each end to one of said aligned spindles; means connecting each of said first-mentioned spindles at one end thereof with said aligned spindles whereby when either of said first-mentioned spindles is rotated by unwinding its map its connected one of said aligned spindles will be rotated and store energy in said spring; means whereby the idle spindle of said first-mentioned spindles is held from rotation while the map on the active spindle is in use, and means for housing said elements and in which all or" said spindles are journalled.

2. A map holder comprising two spindles; a map wound around each of said spindles; two aligned juxtaposed spindles; brackets in which the inner portions of said juxtaposed spindles are mounted; a spiral spring mounted on said juxtaposed spindles between said brackets and secured at each end to one of said juxtaposed spindles; a belt attached to one end of each of said first-mentioned spindles and respectively wound around the outer ends of said juxtaposed spindles whereby when either of said first-mentioned spindles is rotated by unwinding its map its belt will rotate the juxtaposed spindle with which it is connected and thereby store energy in said spring; means whereby the inactive spindle of said firstmentioned spindles is prevented from rotating to prevent its belt from rotating the idle juxtaposed spindle while the map on the active spindle is in use, and means for housing said elements and in which all of said spindles are journalled at their outer ends and said brackets are supported.

3. A map holder comprising a casing closed at each end and having two longitudinal parallel slots in one side thereof; two parallel spindles, spaced apart; a map wound around each of said spindles with their outer ends projecting through said slots; two aligned juxtaposed spindles; brackets in which the inner portions of said juxtaposed spindles are mounted; a spiral spring mounted on said juxtaposed spindles between said brackets and secured at each end to one of said juxtaposed spindles; a belt attached to one end of each of said first-mentioned spindles and respectively wound around the outer ends of said juxtaposed spindles whereby when either of said first mentioned spindles is rotated by unwinding its map its belt will rotate the juxtaposed spindle it is connected with and store energy in said spring; means at the outer end of each map to block the withdrawal thereof through its slot whereby the inactive spindle of said first-mentioned spindles is prevented from rotating and thereby prevent its belt from rotating the idle juxtaposed spindle while the map on the active spindle is in use, the outer ends of all of said spindles mounted in the outer ends of said casing.

4. A device of the ,class described comprising a suitable supporting member adapted at each end to provide a bearing; two aligned juxtaposed spindles journalled at their outer ends in said bearings; means to prevent the rotation of one of said juxtaposed spindles; brackets carried bysaid supporting member in which said aligned spindles are held; a spiral spring mounted on said aligned spindles between said brackets and secured at each end to one of said aligned spindles; a spindle journalled at each end in said hearings in parallel relation tofsaid juxtaposed stored up in said spring by the unwinding of said belt from around its spring-spindle and winding it around the map-spindle as ,the map is un- 5 wound, to be ultimately utilized to rewind the map on its spindle.

5. A map holder comprising a spindle; a map wound therearound; two aligned juxtaposed spindles lying in parallel relationship to the first mentioned spindle; a. spiral spring mounted to surround said aligned spindles and secured at each end to one of said aligned spindles; a belt connecting the outer end of said first mentioned spindle with the outer end of one of said aligned spindles whereby when said first mentioned spindle is rotated by the unwinding of its map therefrom, the aligned spindle coupled thereto will be rotated to store energy in said spring; means whereby the other of said aligned spindles is prevented from rotation, and means for housing said elements.

VICTOR PERCY DRURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

